Systems for Hanging Articles

ABSTRACT

A system for the display and support of apparel includes a support arm which is attached to a horizontal surface such as a clothing bar or shelf The support arm is positioned perpendicularly relative to the horizontal surface so that hanging apparel hung from the support arm is displayed showing the front of the apparel. The support arm, once attached to the clothing bar is prevented from side-to-side, and swaying movement.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of Provisional Patent ApplicationNo. 61/404,497 filed Oct. 04, 2010, and Provisional Patent ApplicationNo. 61/464,385 filed Mar. 03, 2011.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable

THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not applicable

INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC

Not applicable

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to supports for hangingarticles, and more specifically to support arms designed for theconsumer market which can be mounted on a clothing bar or shelf for thesupport of hanging clothing or other articles.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Within the merchandising environment, various displays are used to hangarticles such as clothing. The most common display means for hanginggarments are clothing bars which are most typically straight or circularin order to display garments for sale. The clothing bars used incommercial environments typically have a rectangular profile while thoseavailable to the consumer market have a cylindrical profile. Certaincommercial clothing bars may also employ support arms which are attachedto the clothing bars in order to showcase or enable sorting garments bytype. Although commercial bars have more structural variation thanclothing bars manufactured for non-commercial use, because ofproprietary design, parts associated with commercial assemblies such assupport arms and other accessories are not interchangeable with systemsfrom other makers or with clothing bars manufactured for the consumermarket such as those often sold as part of a closet storage solution.

While support apparatus are known that attach to vertically orientedpoles, a support apparatus for hanging garments and other articles whichis quickly attachable to a horizontally positioned cylindrical clothingbar without requiring additional tools or fasteners would be a valuableaccessory to any consumer closet system.

Moreover, a such a retrofittable support arm would be especiallydesirable if it were strong enough to support multiple articles withoutslipping, relocatable to any position along the bar and easilyremovable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a support member for hangingarticles that is reversibly attachable to horizontal supports such asclothing bars, shelves and the like. One embodiment according to thepresent invention is mounted to a typical clothing bar so as to projectperpendicularly from the bar in order to display articles such asgarments from the front rather than the sides. The support member isespecially useful for planning wardrobe changes, selecting items thatneed to be dry cleaned and many other wardrobe related tasks.

Multiple support members can attach along a clothing bar or a length ofshelving to provide additional hanging space.

In one aspect according to the present invention, the support memberpossesses a support arm which is firmly attachable to a horizontalcylindrical clothing bar.

In another aspect according to the present invention, the support memberpossesses a support arm which is firmly attachable to an edge of a solidshelf.

In another aspect according to the present invention, the support memberpossesses a support arm which is firmly attachable to an edge of a wireshelf.

In yet another aspect according to the present invention, the supportarm is extendible.

Inclusive to all the foregoing aspects, the support arm is firmlyattachable to the horizontal support, whether a shelf edge orcylindrical bar, and is easily re-positionable along the support.

One object of the present invention is to provide a retrofittable meansfor displaying apparel along a clothing bar.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparel displaymeans for garments that extends perpendicularly from any commonly sizedclothing bar.

Yet another object of the present invention is provide an appareldisplay means that while affixed to a clothing bar is easily loosenedand re-positionable by sliding along the clothing bar.

Still another object of the present invention to provide an appareldisplay means that requires no tools for repositioning and removal.

The description as follows is not intended to limit the scope of theinvention to the particular forms set forth, but on the contrary, it isintended to cover such alternatives, modifications, combinations andequivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of theinvention as set forth in the detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment according to the presentinvention for attachment to a cylindrical clothing bar;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of another embodiment according to thepresent invention for attachment to a cylindrical clothing bar;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of another embodiment according to thepresent invention for attachment to a cylindrical clothing bar;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another embodiment according to thepresent invention for attachment to a cylindrical clothing bar;

FIG. 5 is a side view of the embodiment shown in (FIG. 1);

FIG. 6 is a side view of the embodiment shown in (FIG. 2);

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of one embodiment according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of one embodiment according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of one embodiment according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 10 is a side view of the embodiment shown in (FIG. 9);

FIGS. 11-20 are perspective views of another embodiment according to thepresent invention;

FIG. 21 is a perspective view of another embodiment according to thepresent invention for attachment to wire shelf;

FIG. 22 is a side view of the embodiment shown in (FIG. 21);

FIG. 23 is a perspective view of an embodiment according to the presentinvention with a telescoping rod as support member;

FIG. 24 and FIG. 25 are side views of an embodiment similar to the oneshown in (FIG. 22), with a tightening member for attachment to a shelfunit;

FIG. 26 depicts a bent support member with support arm 110 whichtelescopes;

FIG. 27 depicts a straight support member with support arm 110 whichtelescopes.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference Listing:

100′ support member

110 support arm

120 gripping member

124 hinge

126 teeth

128 tightening member

130 slot

132 hanger stop

136 garment rod

138 shelf

142 stay

144 pin

Referring generally to FIGS. 1-27, a support member 100′ for displayinggarments includes a rigid support arm 110 with a gripping member 120 inwhich the support arm is secured perpendicularly to a horizontalstructure such as a clothing bar 136 or shelf 138. The support memberonce attached to the cylindrical clothing bar, permits hanging garmentsto display face out when hung from support arm 110. The support arm canbe telescoping or fixed.

The support member 100′ and gripping member 120 may be made of plastic,metal, a combination of the two materials, or any other materialcombination suggesting itself to those skilled in the art. A series oftroughs or ridges, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 on the top edge of thesupport arm 110 can serve to separate and evenly space a number ofhanging garments. The support arm can be level or sloping.

A preferred embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-6, allows for the rapidattachment of the support member 100′ to a cylindrical clothing bar 136and removal therefrom by a simple gripping member 120 which can includea pair of hinged sections that can be angular, curving or cylindrical,and attachable to clothing bars ranging from 0.75 inches to 1.5 inchesin diameter. The hinged sections can be secured by a locking means thatincludes a threaded knob 128. When the gripping member 120 is closedaround the clothing bar, the U-shaped hasp portion surrounds thethreaded part of the knob 128 and is secured in position by tighteningthe knob.

FIGS. 5-7 show inner faces of hinged sections which include a series ofteeth 126 either formed into the faces, or as separate inserts which areattached to the jaws and reside between the jaws and the clothing bar.The teeth 126, which are preferably formed from soft metal such as azinc alloy, but can be made of hard plastic, provide multiple regionsfor contacting the clothing bar and resist coaxial, rotational orlongitudinal movement relative to the clothing bar once secured thereto.

FIGS. 9 and 10 show an embodiment with the hinged sections securedtogether by a threaded knob, the threaded portion thread-able into atapped recces on one of the sections.

Referring to FIGS. 11-20, an embodiment is shown in which the supportarm 110 is reversibly extendible. The support member can be pulledforward or pushed backward through an aperture within gripping member120 as shown in FIGS. 11, 14 and 15, in which the support member residesin sufficiently tight fit to prevent the support member from slidingmovement absent any manual readjustment. The gripping member can also bedivided as shown in FIGS. 12, 13, 16 and 17 in which the gripping memberhas a cleft spanned by a pin 144 around which slotted arm 110 pivots andslides. The pin can have the profile of an offset cylinder, or a cam, tocreate a friction fit between the pin and the inner surfaces of the slot130 when rotated by knob 128. It is intended that the inventionencompass other means of staying the sliding movement of the support armas will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art. The grippingmember can be in two hinged sections, or the gripping member can be aone piece spring clip which is snapped into place over the clothing baras shown in FIG. 14. FIG. 18 shows a gripping member as a spring clip,while FIGS. 19 and 20 show the gripping member as a pair of hingedsections joined by spring hinge 124. The gripping member pivots so thatthe rearward section of the support arm can rise to contact theunderside of a shelf situated above the clothing bar, thus preventingfurther pivoting of the forward section of the arm.

FIGS. 21-23 depict a support member with support arm 110 that isattachable to a wire shelf by means of teeth 126 that fit between thewire lattice of the wire shelf.

FIGS. 24 and 25 show a support arm 110 which is clamped to a solidsurface such as a shelf.

FIGS. 26 and 27 depict a support member with support arm 110 whichtelescopes.

While the invention has been described by the particular embodimentsgiven, it is not intended that the scope of the invention be limited tothe particular forms set forth. For example, the gripping member can becombined with any one of the support arms shown. The gripping member canbe a spring clip or hinged clamp as depicted, or other clamping meansthat may suggest themselves to those skilled in the art. Whatever theattachment means to the clothing bar, it is intended that the supportmember be retained perpendicularly to the clothing bar while preventingpendulum type, or side to side movement experienced by closet hangers ona clothing bar. The entire assembly can pivot vertically, or include atightening means that substantially prevents rotational movement aboutthe clothing bar. Accordingly, the invention is intended to cover suchalternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included withinthe spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

1. A system for support and display of hanging articles comprising: ahorizontal attachment surface; and, a support arm projectingperpendicularly, and attached to the surface; and, a gripping memberconnecting the support arm to the support surface.
 2. The systemaccording to claim 1 in which the support arm extends in a directiontransverse that of a clothing bar.
 3. The system according to claim 1 inwhich the support arm can be pivoted while attached to the surface. 4.The system according to claim 1 in which the support arm can bereversibly extended.